A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers.
If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links.
If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Regional Communities in a full screen version.
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navajo here: PLEASE WELCOME angry marmot to the CUA team. He'll be subbing for me now and then depending on how susceptible he is to my begging and whining. He appears to be a sucker so far. Sweet!
OK... Bigfoot didn't actually steal my car. I mean, s/he probably wanted to—why else would a Bigfoot be loitering in the lot for so long?—but there's no way s/he would fit in the small cabin and narrow, form-fitting seats of a Volkswagen Golf. Whew! Move along to that big ol' F-150 parked a few spaces down, my hirsute friend.
“Bigfoot stole my car” is a lyric from a 1989 song by MC 900 Ft. Jesus entitled “Truth Is Out of Style” that runs through my mind every time I turn on the History Channel or any of the other cable networks with their seemingly endless loop of shows dealing with aliens, UFOs, ancient astronauts, cryptids, pseudo-scientific and pseudo-historical conspiracy-theorizing in the style of Erich von Däniken (
Chariots of the Gods), Barry Fell (
America B.C.), Michael Cremo (
Forbidden Archeology) or Zecharia Sitchin (
The 12th Planet).
For me as a professional archaeologist—sorry, as a “mainstream archaeologist”—such shows are a beautiful disaster. They are slickly-produced, evidence-free, insubstantial, thirty- or sixty-minute Gish Gallops of pure nonsense, litanies of misrepresentations and outright lies. FSM help me, but I watch 'em all...
My current “favorite,” and I use that term with full ironic intent, is H2's America Unearthed hosted by self-described forensic geologist Scott Wolter:
The better marmot and I were falling off the couch in laughter when Wolter drove a one-person submersible in a Wisconsin lake looking for an Aztec pyramid (S02E08)... and when he re-hashed the thoroughly debunked proposal that the Minoans travelled from the Mediterranean to the Upper Great Lakes 3,500 years ago to mine 1.5 billion pounds of copper (S01E03)... and when he uttered the immortal (and improbable) phrase “Dan Brown’s book,
The Da Vinci Code, may be more fact than fiction” (S03E12)... and when he brought up the Burrows Cave hoax as evidence of pre-Columbian Old World travel to North America (S02E05)... well, you get the picture.
Excellent, acerbic commentary on Wolter's “America Unearthed” (and “Ancient Aliens” and other pseudo-science, pseudo-history shows) can be found at Jason Colavito's site. Don't miss it.
The question remains, however, why are these shows so popular? What need(s) do such shows fill for their audience(s)? Why do people subscribe to any conspiracy theory? Is it the thrill of challenging authority? Is it the sense of in-group belonging with people who are similarly smart enough to see through mainstream thought? Is it comforting that a theory, no matter how off the wall, might lend order to otherwise worrisome randomness? Is it just a matter of being a contrarian for pleasure of it? Are pseudo-science and pseudo-history the inevitable outgrowth of postmodernity?
In short, your question for the day is why is it that “truth is out of style”?
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Egberto Willies ♥ for TexKos
by Chrislove ♥ for TexKos
We had a fantastic meet-up that will energize me for months to come. We had 80 of the most intrepid Texans to date. They braved extremely rare ice storms north of Austin. Bridges and major highways into Austin were closed the morning of our event.
The extreme weather was truly a problem but it was nice to see those who were able to show up. And based on the comments of the two diaries below, many attendees were equally energized and empowered.
All and all, it was a great day! Thanks to nomandates and Chrislove for helping to organize.
FTR: I was in Austin at exactly the same time in 2013 for the inaugural Texas Kos State Meet-up. I got a sunburn at the Zilker Park Kite Festival the next day. It was a gorgeous sunny day.
Here's one photo:
TexKos-Messing with Texas with nothing but love for Texans
Please visit Egberto's and Chrislove's diaries for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC both diaries. You can join TexKos by sending a Kosmail to nomandates.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Sunday, March 29th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kos Meet-up
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery and Restaurant
1201 First Ave S • Seattle
Cost: $20.00 for selective menu for a large group
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper S.O.
3. Lefty Coaster
4. momomia
5. ratcityreprobate
6. doingbusinessas
7. doingbusinessas' daughter
8. Flamingogrrl
9. MiddleEaarth
10. TBone Apollo
11. LarisaW
12. bleeding blue
13. Gemina13
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Maybees:
Michael Foster Guest - Plant for the Planet Seattle
ActNowonClimate
Piren
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Latest diary: Meet-up Reminder & Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - Photo Diary
April 17th-19th, 2015
Democrats Abroad - Mexico, are having their Annual Meeting
Friday, April 17th: Reception in Ajijic
TIME: 5:30-7:00 PM
Tom Guild, a congressional candidate from Oklahoma, is the special guest.
LOCATION: [private residence] Lake Chapala
Saturday, April 18th: Annual meeting and elections in Chapala
TIME: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cash bar at 2:00 PM, Lunch at 3:00 PM
TIME: 7:00 PM
Randy Noojan’s HARD TRAVELIN’ WITH WOODY GUTHRIE at the Club Exotica in Ajijic
Sunday, April 19th: Movie “Iron Jawed Angels” at the Cinemas del Lago in Ajijic,
TIME: 01:30 PM
Cost: $38.
LOCATION: Hotel Villa Montecarlo
Hidalgo 296 • Chapala
ORGANIZER: Send roberb7 a kosmail if you have questions
RSVPs:
1. roberb7
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, April 18th
San Francisco Kos Welcomes blue jersey mom to Town
Potluck style BBQ
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: kimoconnor's garden
[Address given privately to RSVPs] • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. blue jersey mom
2. navajo - [2 bottles of wine]
3. side pocket
4. Mrs. side pocket
5. maggiejean
6. kimoconnor
7. dharmasyd
8. norm
9. remembrance
10. Glen The Plumber
11. TLO
12. Lorikeet
13. dsb
14. FogCityJohn
15. boatsie - [kitcherie]
16. lineatus
17. LaughingPlanet - [non-alcoholic beverages]
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Maybees:
slksfca
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Saturday, April 25th
Dallas Kos Meet-up!
Why: Margaritas, fajitas, burritos and other fine quality progressive company!
Part of the plan: discussing creating a "taskforce" of people ready to swoop down on the county courthouse when marriage equality reaches Texas to greet happy couples with roses and banners celebrating the new recognition of their unions!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant
4125 Lemmon Ave • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees:
tom 47
Chrislove
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Latest diary: Dallas Kossacks Meet Up April 25th
Saturday, April 25th
DAILY KOS CONNECTS KANSAS CITY
Our first regional Daily Kos gathering.
Join us for a day of camaraderie and progressive strategizing with Big Orange flavor. In a day-long seminar, learn how our Connect! Unite! Act! team maximized the Daily Kos forum to effect change in Kansas state politics. We are going to duplicate that effort across the nation. Participants will focus on organizing from the ground up.
You'll also get a chance to meet the blog's founder, Markos Moulitsas and some of the Daily Kos staff:
• Meteor Blades, Senior Political Writer
• Joan McCarter, Senior Political Writer
• David Nir, Political Director
• Jen Hayden, Social Media Editor
• Monique Teal, Activism Team Member
• Neeta Lind aka navajo, Director of Community Building
TIME: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Alamo Drafthouse
1400 Main Street • Kansas City
SCHEDULE:
8:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - Presentations, panels and Q&A's begin
Noon - Lunch served
1:30 PM - More presentations, panels and Q&A's
6:00 PM - After Party at nearby Anton's Taproom & Restaurant. We've reserved their Beer Garden, you'll need a wristband from the day event to get in.
REGISTER HERE: $30 registration fee at Eventbrite
Space will be limited to 200 seats.
Register now to secure your seat.
Benefactor level is also available if you plan to attend and buy a scholarship for someone, you and your attendee can have a front row seat. Angel level is also available if you can't attend but want to help someone else attend.
We've granted two scholarships! We have five more scholarships available thanks to our Benefactors and Angels. Please kosmail navajo if you need a scholarship to attend. |
Grow our network, unite our progressive communities, help win elections!
Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, 2015
DKos Asheville's Roadtrip and Two-Day Retreat to Roanoke, Virginia
From randallt:
After seven successful and engaging meet ups, DKos Asheville's core members decided to take our next gathering on the road. The first reason was that our chef and benefactor for all our meet ups has been Gordon20024 and we wanted say thanks by traveling to be with him instead of having him drive to be with us. We asked and he was thrilled and so the idea was born. Another reason is that it offers us the opportunity to meet more Kossacks from around the region including Virginia and parts of North Carolina to the north and east of us.
Grow our network, grow our community, help win elections.
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TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Hotel Roanoke, Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue • Roanoke
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. gordon20024
2. davehouck
3. randallt
4. Joieau
5. LamontCranston
6. Steerler Grrl
7. Steeler Guy
8. Otteray Scribe
9. DawnN
10. emmasnacker
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
May 2nd, SAVE THE DATE
5th Annual Baja Arizona Kossacks Picnic
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Garfield Park
Tombstone Canyon Rd. • Bisbee
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. ItsaMathJoke
3. rasbobbo
4. ramara
5. sneakers563
6. DaNang65
7. Bisbonian
8. itzadryheat
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Maybees:
2many2list |
Latest diary: Baja Arizona Kossacks Open Thread: 5th Annual Picnic
June 26, 27 & 28th, 2015
EPIC Glacier National Park Meet-up II
ACTIVITIES:
June 26: TBD
June 27: TBD
June 28:
Day - TBD
Evening - 5:00 PM, BBQ potluck with Jen Hayden at the lower picnic area at the Historic Tamarack Lodge, 9549 U.S. 2, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Entertainment at 6:00 PM by Truckstop Honeymoon
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Exact location inside park TBD
[Address] • Glacier National Park
ORGANIZER: Send Ojibwa a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. state of confusion
3. Thinking Fella
4. side pocket
5. Mrs. side pocket
6. navajo
7. jakedog42
8. paradise50
9. Jen Hayden for 6/28 only
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Maybees:
woolibaar
NormAl1792
markdd
peregrine kate
Joan McCarter
mcmom
dharmasyd
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Latest diaries:
• A 2015 Glacier National Park Meetup?
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier Park Meet Up: Travel and Lodging
• The EPIC 2015 Glacier National Park Meet Up: Camping
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier National Park Meet Up: Tours
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.